Spotlight



Sept. 17, 1935. I J K. RUSSELL 2,@14,454

SPOTLIGHT Filed June 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR Jo/wv KQUSSELL sept- 1 J. K. RUSSELL ZQMAEQ SPOTLIGHT Filed June 26, 1955 2sheets-sheet 2 llg w 3/ J4 Em Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UTE STTS

TENT OFFIQE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to the type of lamps or lights which may bebodily moved for substantially universal direction of its rays.

An object of the invention is to pro ide a novel and simple mechanismwhereby the lamp body may be caused to revolve about a vertical axis ora horizontal axis, either by a distant manipulative element or by forcedirectly applied to the lamp body, and whereby either of such revolvingmovements may be simultaneously accomplished.

An object is to provide simple, novel, durable and inexpensive means,for mounting and moving a body simultaneously about a vertical orhorizontal axis by a distant manipulative control element that besimultaneously rotated or reciprocated to effect such verticalandhorizontal movements.

Another object is to provide a simple and novel means mounting andmoving a lamp body about a vertical or horizontal axis, and which meansinclude a gear drive to effect one of said movements and whereby areciprooatory movement of the gear drive operating means will efiect theother of said movements; and a further ob- 25 ject is to accomplish bothof such movements of the lamp body about either its vertical orhorizontal axis by simultaneously rotating and reciprocating such geardrive operating means.

A further object is to provide a novel and 30 simple lamp of the abovecharacter in which the lamp will, when moved to adjusted position, notbe likely to he accidentally displaced by wind pressure or by operationof the device to which it is connected, such as a motor vehicle or boat35 or other moving device.

A further object is to provide a novel mounting for securing a lamp ofthe above character to a supporting member, such as the cowl or top of amotor vehicle, so that the lamp may be 40 mounted to revolve about asubstantially true horizontal axis notwithstanding varied degrees ofinclination of the supporting member, as such cowl or top.

Simplicity, cheapness, ease of operation an assembly, durability andreduction to a minimum of chattering, are other objects and advantages.

A still further object is to provide asimple and novel operatingmechanism for adjusting spotlights in horizontal and vertical planes andw i b. will be compact and compound with the leverage of the operatingmember without the use of levers.

A still further object is to provide a novel, simple and compactoperating mechanism for adjusting spotlights in vertical and horizontalplanes whereby a spotlight may be mounted on a y part of an automobileand be eiiiciently ope: d without lost motion and as effective in 60obtaining visibility as other spotlights mounted (Cl. Zeb -61.13)

on the corner post of an automobile or other spotlights operated withsolid shafts.

A still further object is to provide a simple, compact and novelmechanism for adjusting a spotlight in a horizontal plane by movement of5 a rotary shaft whereby the rays of the spotlight will be adjusted inthe same direction as the rotation of such shaft.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying 10 drawings, the subjoined detail description and theappended claims.

he accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in some of the forms Iat present deem preferable. 15

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, of a lamp mounting androtating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, andsecured to a supporting member, such as the cowl of an automobile and aportion of which is shown. Parts are broken away to contract the View.

Fig. 2 is a symbolic illustration of the electrical connections andwiring diagram.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3- 3, Fig. 1, showing theconnection between the saddle and the turret fixture.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View taken on line 4- 5, Fig. 1, showing theplanetary gear drive for effecting movement of the lamp about ahorizontal axis.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of the turret fixture, asviewed from the right and looking to the left in Fig. 1, and with thevariable tensioning means in place.

Fig. 6 is a View analogous to Fig. 5, but as Viewed from the left andlooking to the right in Fig. l, and with the tensioning means for thereciprocating member in place.

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevational view of the reciprocating memberassembly. Parts being broken away to disclose portions that wouldotherwise be hidden.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the saddle member showing theassociated cam pins.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, on reduced scale and partly insection, showing a modified form of mounting my lamp, such as on a motorboat cowl or top of a motor vehicle a fragment of which is shown.

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view showing the engagement of the campins with the cam slots as viewed on a plane indicated by lines iii-4t,Figs. 7 and 8.

In the drawings the spotlight or lamp l is supported by the support 2from any suitable memher or fixed support such as the side wall 3 of thecowl of an automobile which cowl in many instances extends upwardly atvarious inclinations to a true vertical plane.

In Fig. 1, the support 2 comprises an arm 4 that extends at one end froma base fixture 5 and is provided at its other end with a flange 6 fromwhich extends a stud bolt I that may be inserted through a recess 8formed in wall 3 and upon which nut 9 and lock nut I!) are threaded tosecure the support 2 to wall 3. A cup shaped washer I I provided with adetent I2 is received over stud bolt 7 on one side of wall 3 and a pairof circular washers I2, are also received on stud bolt I on the other oroutside of wall 3. Washers I2 are provided with cooperating angularfaces I3 so that by proper rotation of the washers I2 the angular facesmay be brought into proper cooperating engagement with each other sothat regardless of the inclination of wall 3 from the true vertical thelamp I will be mounted so that it may revolve in a horizontal plane ashereinafter more fully set forth.

The spotlight supporting and adjusting means I4 comprises a body portionor fixture I5 that is provided with a reduced threaded lower end I 6that is in threaded engagement with the internally threaded upper end llof base fixture 5.

A turret fixture I8 is provided with a collar l9 that is rotatablyfitted into body portion I5 that is provided at its upper end with aflange 23 that rests upon the upper edge of body portion I5 that isprovided with an internal ring gear 2| associated with and in fixedrelation to the body portion I5. The turret fixture I8 is securedagainst upward withdrawal from body portion I5 by means of an assemblydisc 22 which is secured to the collar I9 of the turret fixture I8 as bythe plurality of screws 23 that pass through disc 22 and into the lowerend of collar R9. The collar I9 is provided intermediate its ends withan annular recess 24 into which a Marcel spring or spring 25 of sinuatedcontour is fitted and which spring serves to tension the rotary movementof turret fixture I8 relative to body portion I5 and to also aid inpreventing chattering between the two members.

Surmounting the body proper of the turret fixture I8 and formed integraltherewith, is a head 26, of substantially cylindrical shape and whoseaxis is horizontal and at a right angle to the axis of the collar I9.

Fitted within the collar I9 is a plurality of idler gears 2'5 eachmounted upon a pin or shaft 21' (see Fig. 4) and one of which gears 21meshes with ring gear 26 so that a rotation of the gears 21 as byapplied energy will effect rotation of the whole turret fixture I3 inthe same direction as that given to the applied energy.

The fixture I8 is provided vertically therethrough along the axisthereof with a square bore 28 and in which a vertically sli-dable orreciprooable member 25 is non-rotat-ably mounted. The member 29 isprovided at its lower end with a recess or cut-out portion 39 and intowhich an elongate gear M is mounted for engagement with one of the gears23. The gear 3| is mounted upon a sleeve or bushing 32 that extendsthrough a bore 33 that forms a bearing for said bushing and gear 3! inthe lower end of member 2;! and such bushing also extends into -abearing 34 formed in member 253 at the upper end of recess 38 and thegear 38 is secured in fixed relation to bushing 32 by means of the pin35 that extends therethrough and secures such parts together (see Fig.l).

A flexible shaft 35 is operably connected to gear 3i as by solderin orbrazing one end of shaft 36 to bushing or sleeve 32 and this connectionalso operably connects shaft 35 to slidable member 29.

A knob 3'! is fixed to the other end of shaft 36 and such knob 37 may belocated at a point remote from the lamp such as on the instrument board(not shown) of an automobile. The knob 3'! may be fixed to shaft 36 asby the set screw 38. A housing tube 39 secured to base fixture 5encloses the shaft 236 for such distance as may be deemed practicable ordesirable. The base fixture 5 has secured thereto an insulated ring 43to which an annular contact plate 4i is fixed and from which a Wire d2leads through an opening d3 formed in support 2 and base fixture 5 toany suitable source of electrical energy such as to the live side ofbattery 44 (see Fig. 2). A switch 35 (see Fig. 2) may be interposed inwire 52 for manual control of the circuit to the light id that ismounted in the lamp I.

A brush 41 is secured to the assembly disc 22 preferably by passing someof the screws 23 therethrough when the disc 22 is secured to collar I9.The brush 4! is insulated from disc 22 by any suitable insulating means33 and a wire 49 extends from brush 6"! through a suitable opening 58 inturret fixture l8 and an opening (not shown) in disc 22 to the electricbulb 46 in the light I where it is grounded so as to complete thecircuit to the other side of battery 44.

The saddle or lamp supporting fixture 5i which has cheeks 52 providedwith threaded openings 53 is slipped over the turret head with itscheeks coinciding with the cheeks of the turret head and is journalledor hinged thereto as by the journal pins 5 1 that are threaded intoopenings 53 and have a reduced inner portion or nose 55 that is receivedin bearings 55 formed in the turret head. At the upper end of thesaddle, means such as a perforated cap 51 provide for the attachment ofthe lamp body or barrel 58; and such lamp body 58 may be securely heldto the saddle and in fixed relation thereto as by means of the screwsand nuts 59. At one side of the saddle 5| an extension or lug 58 isprovided (see Figs. 1 and 8), and which extension may be said to extendfrom and into the lamp body 58 in rear of the usual reflector 6! foundin lamps of this character and lug 63 extends from the fixed pivotalconnection of the lamp body into said body. The extension 39 is providedwith a plurality of posts or cam pins 62 that extend inwardly therefromand in fixed relation thereto.

On one side of the head 26, I have provided an annular opening 63 thatextends through the head 26 so that portions thereof open to the squarebore 2d and in said opening 63, I mount a Marcel spring 64 whichoperates between its associated cheek 52 and the member 29 to apply afriction or tension on member 29 and cheek 52 so as to preventaccidental displacement of the light from its adjusted position andwhich displacement may otherwise result from road shock and the like.

On one side of head 26 opposite opening 63, I provide a recess 55 thatis formed with an abutment 65 and in which recess 55 a plurality of coilcompression springs 61 are mounted and each of which at one end engageabutment 55 and at each of their other ends engage a block 58 which isprovided with a threaded opening 59 into which is threaded one end ofscrew 15 that passes through one of the cheeks 52. Oscillation of thesaddle 5| about head 26 will cause compression of one of the springs 5'!depending upon the direction of rotation and such compression of thesprings 61 will apply a resistance or load upon the operating means toenable the operator to have a positive control of the lamp adjustment sothat the lamp may be more accurately adjusted to direct its rays to thedesired spot.

The vertical reciprocating or slidable member 29 is preferably madesquare in cross-section so as to prevent rotation thereof relative tothe turret fixture it through which it is slidably mounted. However itis not necessary that the member 29 be made square in cross-section asany suitable construction that will present a fiat surface 99 ashereinafter referred to, and which will prevent relative rotationbetween member 29 and fixture It will suffice. The flat surface 99 andat the upper end of member 29 is provided with cam means in the form ofa plurality of arcuate grooves or cam slots ll into which the cam pins62 project. When member 2d and saddle are in assembled position the campins t2 extend into the arcuate grooves or cam slots M and the cam slotsbeing formed so as to extend downwardly at an acute angle from one sideof member 29, such cam slots l i, when the slidable member 29isreciprocated will engage the cam pins or projections 62 and apply awedge action to said projections or cam pins 52 and thereby provides acompact structure which applies a compound leverage to the lamp body tomove such lamp body about its pivot in a vertical plane withoutrequiring the use of a series of levers or gears to obtain such compoundleverage. It will be seen in operation that upon reciprocation of member29 in a fixed plane relative to the fixed pivotal connection of the lampfor adjustment in a vertical plane, that the projections or cam pins 62will move within the grooves of the cam slots "H and transverselythrougha plane parallel to the fiatface 89 of slidable member 29 and itwill also be seen from the foregoing that the pivotal connection for thelamp body straddles the flat face 99, or in other words the member 29and its fiat face 99 moves in a path directly through the pivotal axesof the lamp body for vertical adjust ment of the light rays in avertical plane.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a modified form of mounting the supporting andadjusting means upon the support and with this mounting the lamp i maybe mounted upon the top of an automobile as shown at 212 or such member12 may be a motor boat and the operating means shown in Fig. 1. may inthat case be used to operate the lamp from a remote control or in thecase of mounting the lamp upon an auto top, a shaft it may be used inplace of the flexible shaft 3t and the knob ill may be connecteddirectly to shaft l3 so that the same will be positioned above the autodrivers head within easy reach for adjustment of the lamp. In thisconstruction for mounting the lamp, the base fixture 5 is extended atits lower end to form the fiange 5' in a horizontal position instead ofin a vertical position as shown in Fig. l and the washers it with theirannular contacting and cooperating faces l3 will satisfactorilycompensate for any curvature or angularization of the top or support 2from a true horizontal plane. In all other respects the parts shown inFig. 9 are the same as those hereinbefore described.

In operation when it is desired to adjust the rays from the light in ahorizontal plane the operator grasps the knob 3i and upon rotationthereof the flexible shaft 3% will rotate the gear 3i which rotationthrough the medium of the gears 27! and the internal gear M will rotatethe turret fixture it about its axis and the lamp l being secured tosaid turret fixture it will rotate therewith in ashorizontal plane,

the saddle 5i and its associated lamp body or bar- 101 rel 53 about itsjournal formed by the pins 54 and 1 during such movement gear 3i will,because of its length compensate for such reciprocatory movement ofmember 29 relative to gears 2i. 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that the spotlight may besimultaneously adjusted with respect to the horizontal or verticaldirection of its rays thereby the operator is enabled to make a compoundadjustment of the directional rays of the spotlight without beingrequired to first 201 adjust the light in one direction and then inanother direction.

I have found that by constructing the reciprocating member 28 with thecam slots ii extending downwardly at an acute angle from one side of themember 29 that such angle of the slots provide for easy operation of thelamp when adjusted by the hand operating means, including the shaft itand knob 3?, but that in the event a person grasped the lamp body properand at- 30 tempted to manually move the lamp in a vertical plane, thatsuch manual movement of the lamp is relatively hard. This also tends toreduce to a minimum the movement of the lamp body which may beoccasioned by wind pressure, road shock and the like.

I claim:

1. In a spotlight holder and moving means, a body portion for securementto a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said bodyportion for rotation in a horizontal direction; a lamp body pivot-allymounted on said fixture for adjustment in a vertical direction; aninternal ring gear associated with said body portion; a member slidablymounted in said fixture; gear means in said slidable member operativelyconnected to said internal gear so that upon operation thereof saidfixture will be rotatably moved in said body portion; means connected tosaid lamp body and to said slidable member so that upon reciprocation ofsaid slidable member said lamp body will be moved in a verticaldirection; and means for operating said gear means and for reciprocatingsaid slidahle member.

2. Spotlight supporting and adjusting means comprising a supportingfixture; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said supporting fixture;a lamp pivotally connected to said turret fixture;

a member slidably mounted in said turret fixture and connected to movesaid lamp in a vertical direction about its pivot; a shaft connected toreciprocate said slidable member; a gear connected to said shaft; andgear means associated with said supporting fixture and the gear on saidshaft whereby said turret fixture may be rotated in a horizontaldirection upon rotation of said shaft.

3. Spotlight supporting and adjusting means comprising a lamp pivotallymounted for adjustment in a vertical direction; a member slidablymounted relative to the pivotal connection of said lamp, said memberbeing provided with a plurality of slots; a member connected to saidlamp in fixed relation thereto and being provided with projectionsadapted to be received in said slots; and 7 and such movement will v.5

means for reciprocating said slidable member whereby reciprocation ofsaid member will move said lamp and said fixed member in a verticaldirection about said pivotal connection.

4. In an adjustable spotlight, supporting, means; a lamp housingpivotally mounted on said supporting means; a member extending from saidlamp housing and provided with projections; and a reciprocal memberhaving slots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamphousing about its pivot when said member is reciprocated.

5. In an adjustable spotlight, supporting means; a lamp housingpivotally mounted on said supporting means; a member extending from saidlamp housing and provided with a plurality of projections; and a memberslidable relative to the pivotal connection of said lamp housing andprovided with a plurality of slots adapted to receive said projectionsand move said lamp about its pivot upon reciprocation of said slidablemember, said slidable member being non-rotatable relative to said lamphousing.

6. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement toa fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said bodyportion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a memberextending from said lamp body; projections extending from said member; anon-rotatable reciprocal member provided with a flat surface havingslots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamp body aboutits pivot upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member; and meansassociated with said fixture and the pivotal connection for said lampbody and said reciprocal member to apply friction to said pivotalconnection and to said reciprocal membar.

7. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement tofixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion;a non-rotatable reciprocal member having a flat surface provided withcam slots and being mounted in said fixture; a lamp body pivotallymounted on said fixture, a member connected to said lamp body; and meansextending from said member and adapted to be received in said cam slotsto move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of saidnon-rotatable member in said fixture.

8. Spotlight support and adjusting means comprising a body portion forsecurement to a fixed. support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted insaid body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; anon-rotatable member slidably mounted in said fixture and having asurface provided with cam slots; a member fixedly connected to said lampbody; projections extending from said fixed member and adapted to bereceived in said cam slots to move said lamp body about its pivotalconnection with said fixture when said reciprocal member isreciprocated; and means connected to said turret fixture to move saidfixture rotatably in said body portion.

9. In an adjustable spotlight, a body portion for securement to a fixedsupport; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; meanscooperating with said body portion and said fixture to preventlongitudinal movement of said fixture relative to said body portion; alamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member extending fromsaid lamp body; projections extending from said member; a non-rotatablereciprocal member provided with a flat surface having slots adapted toreceive said projections to move said lamp body about its pivot uponreciprocation of said reciprocal member, said reciprocal member beingmounted in said fixture; means connected to said turret fixture to movesaid fixture rotatably in said body portion; and means associated withsaid fixture and the pivotal connection for said lamp body and with saidreciprocal member to apply friction to said pivotal connection and tosaid reciprocal member; said projections being moved transversely acrossthe face of said reciprocal member upon reciprocation of said reciprocalmember.

10. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement toa fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said bodyportion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a memberextending from said lamp body; projections extending from said member;and a non-rotatable reciprocal member having a flat surface providedwith slots adapted to receive said 2.

projections to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation ofsaid reciprocal member.

11. In an adjustable spotlight, a body portion for securement to a fixedsupport; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; meanscooperating with said body portion and said fixture to preventlongitudinal movement of said fixture relative to said body portion; alamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member extending fromsaid lamp body; projections extending from said member; a non-rotatablereciprocal member having a fiat surface provided with slots adapted toreceive said projections to move said lamp body about its pivot uponreciprocation of said reciprocal member, said reciprocal member beingslidably mounted on said fixture; and means connected to said turretfixture to rotatably move said fixture in said body portion, saidprojections being moved transversely across the face of said reciprocalmember upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member.

12. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement toa fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body por- 4tion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member fixed toand extending into said lamp body; projections extending from saidmember, the longitudinal axis of each of said projections extending in aplane parallel to the 5 pivotal axis of said lamp body; and a reciprocalmember non-rotatable relative to said lamp body and having a fiatsurface provided with slots adapted to receive said projections to movesaid lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of 5 said reciprocalmember.

13. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement toa fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted on said bodyportion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member fixedto and extending into said lamp body; means extending from said member;a reciprocal member having a fiat surface provided with cam slots andbeing mounted in said fixture and non-rotatable relative to said 6 lampbody, said slots being adapted to receive the means extending from saidmember to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of saidnon-rotatable member relative to said fixture 70

